Jonah is a book in the bible that we often think of as a children's story. We tell it to our children and it almost seems to become a fictional tale of a man who gets swallowed by a whale. My boys are upstairs right now, watching Jonah Veggie Tales. When was the last time you looked at Jonah and what it really means to you as an adult? What are the messages that God is telling you, in this miraculous account? I have noticed several things as I read Jonah this morning and I would like to share this with you.
Jonah was chosen by God. He knew his God. He knew what God was asking of him and he ran from the one whom he could never actually run from. In the first chapter he admitted to the sailors that he had been running from God and that the storm was his fault. He admitted his guilt, but he was still unwilling to do what he knew must be done. He knew God was after him, but he wanted the sailors to throw him in the water. Why didn't he just jump in? He understood the ramifications of his choices. The storm was his fault and the sailors were going to perish because of him, yet he was still unwilling to take the leap himself. He wanted someone else to throw him in.
Jonah 2, "I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the world of the dead, and LORD, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. ...'O LORD, you have driven me from your presence. How will I ever again see your holy Temple?' ...I was locked out of life and imprisoned in the land of the dead. But you O LORD my God, have snatched me from the yawning jaws of death! When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. ...I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone."
While Jonah was praying to God, he was not yet delivered from his circumstances. He was praising God from the stomach of a fish. He could have very easily died there, yet he was praising his LORD. It took such horrible conditions for him to realize his wrong and change his direction. Even though he had seen his wrong for not obeying God in the first place, his heart was still not with God in His understanding of the situation. After God did not punish the people of Nineveh for their sins, Jonah was very angry. In his anger he chose to sit in the hot sun, then blamed everyone else for his misery. The whole time Jonah was the one responsible for his own circumstances. He was the one who chose to disobey God. He was the one who chose to sit in the hot sun. Then he was upset because of his own stupidity.
I have been Jonah so many times in my life. There have been those times when I knew I was doing something that God was definitely trying to stop me from doing, but I was determined to do it anyway. Then I found myself in unpleasant situations where death was right in front of me, because of my own choices. I knew what I was supposed to be doing, yet I was unwilling to take the right step for myself, so drastic resolutions had to be made for me. How many times have you done something that you knew was going against God's will for your life? Yet you did it anyway, then found yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do you see that it is not really about your situation, but about your heart. Jonah kept finding himself in situations that was not God's choice for him. Jonah's heart was hard against God. If he had softened his heart he would have been fine. God kept him alive, in spite of his choices, but his circumstances were not what God was desiring for him. We have to look at our own situation and see what we have done and what God is truly wanting for us. You have to look into your own heart to see if your heart is with God and not just your outward appearance. If your heart is not with Him, then you will still be finding yourself in undesirable situations, even if you are doing the "right" thing. Give your heart to God and desire to do His will, so that you can enjoy your life.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
What are you teaching your Children?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9, "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, and your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Do you know that 75% of all children raised in church, across denominations, leave the faith when they leave home. 75% of all of our children will leave God! If you have three children, only one will still believe in God as an adult. I don't know about you, but this freaks me out! Our children are under attack and we as parents do not know how to help them, for most of us cannot even help ourselves. Do you know how to defend your faith? Do you believe in God? Do you know how to live your life, for Him? www.crossexamined.org We live in a time of information. Do we use the information that we have been provided, for Christ? www.godandscience.org There are so many wonderful tools, so that we can give an answer for our faith. Do we use them? www.hipandthigh.blogspot.com I have only provided three. Do you use the tools, any tools of information, that God has provided you with?
Not only do we need to have the knowledge of God, but we must live for Him daily. Of all the people who are watching you every day, your children are the ones that are really seeing you. Do they see you and see truth in your life? Or, do they see you and see a hypocrite? Of coarse you will make mistakes and your children will see you sin, but do you live for Him? Many times we see other people and we see our children through our eyes, but what we must do is to look at ourselves through their eyes. In order to get a hold of our own lives, sometimes we need to look at what we are doing and how we are acting, through the eyes of our children. What are they seeing in us?
Proverbs 20:7, "The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children after them." The reason that the godly will have children that are blessed, is because their children will mimic what they see. I have never seen a passage that tells us to tell someone to live differently than we do. I have seen many passages that tell us to model for others the way they should go. I must look every day at my life, and try my best to show my children the right path to take. I cannot just tell them to make holy choices, but I must model godly choices for them. I make so many mistakes and I sin some how every day, but when I do make mistakes I talk about those mistakes with my boys. They see me. They know when I have done something wrong. There is no use in trying to cover up my failures. In order to teach my children, I have to be willing to look at myself through their eyes. They have to see that I love my God. They have to hear my mistakes, so that they have a wide variety of knowledge so that they can choose the right path.
Proverbs 22:6, "Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it." Does your life model the right path for your children? Do you help them to see your mistakes, so that they can make better choices? Do you love the LORD your God with all of your heart, mind and strength? What does your life teach your children about their God? These are questions that I ask myself every day? These are the concerns that drive my life. What is driving you, today?
Do you know that 75% of all children raised in church, across denominations, leave the faith when they leave home. 75% of all of our children will leave God! If you have three children, only one will still believe in God as an adult. I don't know about you, but this freaks me out! Our children are under attack and we as parents do not know how to help them, for most of us cannot even help ourselves. Do you know how to defend your faith? Do you believe in God? Do you know how to live your life, for Him? www.crossexamined.org We live in a time of information. Do we use the information that we have been provided, for Christ? www.godandscience.org There are so many wonderful tools, so that we can give an answer for our faith. Do we use them? www.hipandthigh.blogspot.com I have only provided three. Do you use the tools, any tools of information, that God has provided you with?
Not only do we need to have the knowledge of God, but we must live for Him daily. Of all the people who are watching you every day, your children are the ones that are really seeing you. Do they see you and see truth in your life? Or, do they see you and see a hypocrite? Of coarse you will make mistakes and your children will see you sin, but do you live for Him? Many times we see other people and we see our children through our eyes, but what we must do is to look at ourselves through their eyes. In order to get a hold of our own lives, sometimes we need to look at what we are doing and how we are acting, through the eyes of our children. What are they seeing in us?
Proverbs 20:7, "The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children after them." The reason that the godly will have children that are blessed, is because their children will mimic what they see. I have never seen a passage that tells us to tell someone to live differently than we do. I have seen many passages that tell us to model for others the way they should go. I must look every day at my life, and try my best to show my children the right path to take. I cannot just tell them to make holy choices, but I must model godly choices for them. I make so many mistakes and I sin some how every day, but when I do make mistakes I talk about those mistakes with my boys. They see me. They know when I have done something wrong. There is no use in trying to cover up my failures. In order to teach my children, I have to be willing to look at myself through their eyes. They have to see that I love my God. They have to hear my mistakes, so that they have a wide variety of knowledge so that they can choose the right path.
Proverbs 22:6, "Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it." Does your life model the right path for your children? Do you help them to see your mistakes, so that they can make better choices? Do you love the LORD your God with all of your heart, mind and strength? What does your life teach your children about their God? These are questions that I ask myself every day? These are the concerns that drive my life. What is driving you, today?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Your Reward
Ecclesiastes 7:26, "I discovered that a seductive woman is more bitter than death. Her passion is a trap, and her soft hands will bind you. Those who please God will escape from her, but sinners will be caught in her snare."
This really has more meaning behind it than it appears. The lure of the seductive woman is that she is promising life and fulfilment, but really all she offers is death. Men who fall under her spell will reap a sorrow that they never expected. They expect to find honor, respect, and sexual pleasure that no other can match. But instead, in the end, they find disgrace, contempt and impotence. What used to satisfy them, now does not even begin to entertain them. The sex they thought they were getting has become a drug and they are left with the delusion, "if they can just get a little more, this time she will fill them." Oh, how bitter and sad her touch has become.
I have addressed the male side of the pornography world, but now it is time to see the woman's side. I was the seductive woman. I was the one promising so much to men. I was using them, while they used me. In the end, it left me with a bitterness and disgust towards men that many cannot imagine. When I married Jason, I was so broken; I was so hard. I hated men. I used them, and I desired them, but I hated them. I thought they were all weak, manipulative, pathetic liars. Many men have hurt their wives, and now they think she is a very unforgiving and bitter woman. She only has one or two men, she feels have wronged her. Can you imagine the scorn of a woman who has been harmed by hundreds of men? Jason really never did anything to me, but he was a man. So this put him in the wrong group from the beginning.
At the start of our marriage, things did not look very promising. Jason was young and I was a wreck. How do you mend something that you never broke to begin with? The healing started one day at a time. He truly looked at how Christ treated His church, Eph 5. Jason looked at me and what I needed, not what he desired. He began serving me; little things, like fixing my breakfast on Saturday mornings. He would help me pick up the house. He would wash the dishes. He did not watch TV, until after I went to bed. He would talk to me about his day and ask me about mine. We began working as a team around the house, and I began to soften. It took several years; a wound never heals over night. But one day at a time, we began to build a relationship.
Ecclesiastes 9:9, "Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you in this world. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil."
Jason no longer has to work so hard. He still helps me, but his labor is not in vain. He worked for my love and affection, he worked at mending my broken heart, now he can enjoy his reward. We have a wonderful marriage. Our relationship is not perfect, we work on it every day. Some days, I have to work a little harder and other days, Jason works a little more. But in the end we both are working for God and trying to glorify Him through our marriage. We work as a team, and we play as a team.
I am so thankful that Jason worked so hard for me. With his help, I have found that men are not weak. They are not pathetic. Given the right teacher, Christ, they can tear down the greatest of walls.
This really has more meaning behind it than it appears. The lure of the seductive woman is that she is promising life and fulfilment, but really all she offers is death. Men who fall under her spell will reap a sorrow that they never expected. They expect to find honor, respect, and sexual pleasure that no other can match. But instead, in the end, they find disgrace, contempt and impotence. What used to satisfy them, now does not even begin to entertain them. The sex they thought they were getting has become a drug and they are left with the delusion, "if they can just get a little more, this time she will fill them." Oh, how bitter and sad her touch has become.
I have addressed the male side of the pornography world, but now it is time to see the woman's side. I was the seductive woman. I was the one promising so much to men. I was using them, while they used me. In the end, it left me with a bitterness and disgust towards men that many cannot imagine. When I married Jason, I was so broken; I was so hard. I hated men. I used them, and I desired them, but I hated them. I thought they were all weak, manipulative, pathetic liars. Many men have hurt their wives, and now they think she is a very unforgiving and bitter woman. She only has one or two men, she feels have wronged her. Can you imagine the scorn of a woman who has been harmed by hundreds of men? Jason really never did anything to me, but he was a man. So this put him in the wrong group from the beginning.
At the start of our marriage, things did not look very promising. Jason was young and I was a wreck. How do you mend something that you never broke to begin with? The healing started one day at a time. He truly looked at how Christ treated His church, Eph 5. Jason looked at me and what I needed, not what he desired. He began serving me; little things, like fixing my breakfast on Saturday mornings. He would help me pick up the house. He would wash the dishes. He did not watch TV, until after I went to bed. He would talk to me about his day and ask me about mine. We began working as a team around the house, and I began to soften. It took several years; a wound never heals over night. But one day at a time, we began to build a relationship.
Ecclesiastes 9:9, "Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you in this world. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil."
Jason no longer has to work so hard. He still helps me, but his labor is not in vain. He worked for my love and affection, he worked at mending my broken heart, now he can enjoy his reward. We have a wonderful marriage. Our relationship is not perfect, we work on it every day. Some days, I have to work a little harder and other days, Jason works a little more. But in the end we both are working for God and trying to glorify Him through our marriage. We work as a team, and we play as a team.
I am so thankful that Jason worked so hard for me. With his help, I have found that men are not weak. They are not pathetic. Given the right teacher, Christ, they can tear down the greatest of walls.
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Good Gardener
I want to thank you. I want to thank you for making my life so wonderful. I want to thank you for covering me with your love. I want to thank you for bringing me so much joy. I want to thank you for helping me to feel pure. I want to thank you for sacrificing for me every day. I want to thank you for being my husband, my lover, my friend.
Ephesians 5:21-33, "And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; He gave His life to be her Savior. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.
And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word. He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. for a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife. No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for His body, which is the church. And we are His body.
As the Scriptures say, 'A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife and the two are united into one.' This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
I love the role that I have been given. I love to submit myself under your headship. You make my task seem so easy. I truly love being your wife, thank you. You have taken a very broken and withered bloom and planted her in a garden full of life. You have been very kindhearted with this precious gift and made sure that there were no weeds that could chock out your tender shoot. Thank you for providing for me a beautiful space in order for me to grow and discover who I was supposed to become. Thank you for allowing me enough room for the Son to strengthen my branches. Every good that anyone sees in me, is a direct reflection of my gardener. You have taken your job very seriously and I have thrived under your watchful eye. Thank you.
I grew up knowing, intellectually, who Christ was. Thank you for allowing me to see, feel, and know Him, through your care. I know that I do not deserve any credit for my change. My gardener is the one everyone should look to, for he listened to his Teacher and learned from Him. No, you are not perfect, but you allowed me to see Him through you, and I cannot thank you enough for this.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, "So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God." Please come into your garden and drink and enjoy the fruits of your labor. I am ripe and my fruit is sweet. You have done your job well and your labor was never in vain. You have worked so hard, come and rest in the garden that you have created. Come and enjoy your reward. I love you... Thank you
Ephesians 5:21-33, "And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; He gave His life to be her Savior. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.
And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word. He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. for a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife. No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for His body, which is the church. And we are His body.
As the Scriptures say, 'A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife and the two are united into one.' This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
I love the role that I have been given. I love to submit myself under your headship. You make my task seem so easy. I truly love being your wife, thank you. You have taken a very broken and withered bloom and planted her in a garden full of life. You have been very kindhearted with this precious gift and made sure that there were no weeds that could chock out your tender shoot. Thank you for providing for me a beautiful space in order for me to grow and discover who I was supposed to become. Thank you for allowing me enough room for the Son to strengthen my branches. Every good that anyone sees in me, is a direct reflection of my gardener. You have taken your job very seriously and I have thrived under your watchful eye. Thank you.
I grew up knowing, intellectually, who Christ was. Thank you for allowing me to see, feel, and know Him, through your care. I know that I do not deserve any credit for my change. My gardener is the one everyone should look to, for he listened to his Teacher and learned from Him. No, you are not perfect, but you allowed me to see Him through you, and I cannot thank you enough for this.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, "So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God." Please come into your garden and drink and enjoy the fruits of your labor. I am ripe and my fruit is sweet. You have done your job well and your labor was never in vain. You have worked so hard, come and rest in the garden that you have created. Come and enjoy your reward. I love you... Thank you
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Freedom Living
Galatians 1-5: When Paul received Christ as his savior, he "did not rush out and consult with anyone." He did not go to the Jews, he went to the gentiles. "It was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem for a visit with Peter..." He had to stay away, for some time to go by, in order for others to see that he had changed his life. So often we desire instant change and go seeking others, so that we can show them how we have changed. This is a very fatal mistake that we often make, once we have decided to serve Christ. In a way it sets us up for failure, because we do not start out a changed life, so then we are placed under the law. "For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
"After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" After being a slave to sin, it is so hard not to become a slave to the law. I know that when I truly wanted my life to change, I felt it was hopeless. I felt as though I would die, trying so hard. It was so hard for me to understand. I had to really see that Christ set me free. I obey and live in true freedom, not to earn salvation, but to experience the true joy of freedom living. "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace... What is important is faith expressing itself in love."
For so long I felt I was getting mixed signals from God about what it really means to be saved. My life was supposed to be different, but I was not supposed to be doing good for God's love. It took time and I am still learning. I feel different now, so I feel like I am understanding His love and my love a little more. "Love your neighbor as yourself." Who are your neighbors? So often we leave the house, in order to find who our neighbors are. We do not have to leave our house to find our closest neighbor. "But instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." Honestly, when I started treating my husband different and started loving him, my life changed. I no longer felt so hostile toward everyone and everything. I started understanding Christ's love for me. Then I was no longer having to work at my salvation. I was set free, because my love changed. I now serve Him and obey Him out of love, not works.
"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law."
It took several years for my actions to start revealing what my heart was so desperately desiring. I did not have a changed life right away. In fact I am still changing. Everyday there is another part that I am working on. But I do not work at my life, because of trying to earn salvation. I work at becoming a different person, because He has saved me. I am no longer a slave to anything. I have been set free to love. He bore my cross and He paid my debt. Now because of freedom, I can live a life that pleases Him. In order to truly understand where my heart is, all I have to do is look at what is guiding my life and my actions. I no longer have to wonder, my heart is drawn by His love. I still make mistakes, but my love is for Him. You must never question His love for you, for He loves you. What you must question, is your love for Him. Do you love Him? What are you seeking? Where is your heart leading you? Don't live in slavery; slavery to sin or to the law. Live free with Christ and discover His love.
"After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" After being a slave to sin, it is so hard not to become a slave to the law. I know that when I truly wanted my life to change, I felt it was hopeless. I felt as though I would die, trying so hard. It was so hard for me to understand. I had to really see that Christ set me free. I obey and live in true freedom, not to earn salvation, but to experience the true joy of freedom living. "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace... What is important is faith expressing itself in love."
For so long I felt I was getting mixed signals from God about what it really means to be saved. My life was supposed to be different, but I was not supposed to be doing good for God's love. It took time and I am still learning. I feel different now, so I feel like I am understanding His love and my love a little more. "Love your neighbor as yourself." Who are your neighbors? So often we leave the house, in order to find who our neighbors are. We do not have to leave our house to find our closest neighbor. "But instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." Honestly, when I started treating my husband different and started loving him, my life changed. I no longer felt so hostile toward everyone and everything. I started understanding Christ's love for me. Then I was no longer having to work at my salvation. I was set free, because my love changed. I now serve Him and obey Him out of love, not works.
"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law."
It took several years for my actions to start revealing what my heart was so desperately desiring. I did not have a changed life right away. In fact I am still changing. Everyday there is another part that I am working on. But I do not work at my life, because of trying to earn salvation. I work at becoming a different person, because He has saved me. I am no longer a slave to anything. I have been set free to love. He bore my cross and He paid my debt. Now because of freedom, I can live a life that pleases Him. In order to truly understand where my heart is, all I have to do is look at what is guiding my life and my actions. I no longer have to wonder, my heart is drawn by His love. I still make mistakes, but my love is for Him. You must never question His love for you, for He loves you. What you must question, is your love for Him. Do you love Him? What are you seeking? Where is your heart leading you? Don't live in slavery; slavery to sin or to the law. Live free with Christ and discover His love.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Titus 2
Titus 2:3-5, "Teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord... They should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God."
This scripture is how the night began. We had 13 women in all; a very good mix of young and old. The lives varied from women who had only one young infant, to women who had grandchildren. One of which, had 23 grandchildren! What an awesome group of women. Once the night progressed, the questions started emerging. The questions ranged in how to raise young children, how to raise teenagers, and how to treat your husband. How absolutely awesome it was to hear the different suggestions from young and old. We brought together different life experiences, from how we were raised, to how the older women had raised their children. I cannot thank the women enough for being part of the night. Every woman had something to offer, whether it was in a question or an answer. Just their very presence was needed.
Ah, the desire of wisdom. Proverbs 8:1-9, "Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! ...I call to you, to all of you! I am raising my voice to all people. How naive you are! Let me give you common sense. O foolish ones, let me give you understanding. Listen to me! For I have excellent things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and hate every kind of deception. My advise is wholesome and good. There is nothing crooked or twisted in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those who want to learn."
How often we miss out on wisdom! We miss out because we either think we have nothing to offer, or nothing to learn. How truly foolish this is! None of us have all of the right answers, but as long as we are seeking God, He can bring the right answers. Many times it is a combination of different things coming from different sources. I am so blessed that I was part of such an awesome night. I cannot thank all of you enough. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for being willing to open up and truly seek wisdom.
Ruth - In a time when choosing to stay with Naomi, it could have seemed like a death sentence. But Ruth could see that Naomi loved her God and desired Him, so she stayed and listed to her wiser older woman. Her decision to take from Naomi and learn from her, changed both of their lives. "God was at the center of their intimate communication. Ruth came to know the God of Israel through Naomi. The older woman allowed Ruth to see, hear, and feel all the joy and anguish of her relationship to God. How often do you feel that your thoughts and questions about God should be left out of a close relationship? How often do you share your unedited thoughts about God with your spouse or friends? Sharing openly about our relationship with God can bring depth and intimacy to our relationships with others."
Thank you, all of you!!
This scripture is how the night began. We had 13 women in all; a very good mix of young and old. The lives varied from women who had only one young infant, to women who had grandchildren. One of which, had 23 grandchildren! What an awesome group of women. Once the night progressed, the questions started emerging. The questions ranged in how to raise young children, how to raise teenagers, and how to treat your husband. How absolutely awesome it was to hear the different suggestions from young and old. We brought together different life experiences, from how we were raised, to how the older women had raised their children. I cannot thank the women enough for being part of the night. Every woman had something to offer, whether it was in a question or an answer. Just their very presence was needed.
Ah, the desire of wisdom. Proverbs 8:1-9, "Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! ...I call to you, to all of you! I am raising my voice to all people. How naive you are! Let me give you common sense. O foolish ones, let me give you understanding. Listen to me! For I have excellent things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and hate every kind of deception. My advise is wholesome and good. There is nothing crooked or twisted in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those who want to learn."
How often we miss out on wisdom! We miss out because we either think we have nothing to offer, or nothing to learn. How truly foolish this is! None of us have all of the right answers, but as long as we are seeking God, He can bring the right answers. Many times it is a combination of different things coming from different sources. I am so blessed that I was part of such an awesome night. I cannot thank all of you enough. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for being willing to open up and truly seek wisdom.
Ruth - In a time when choosing to stay with Naomi, it could have seemed like a death sentence. But Ruth could see that Naomi loved her God and desired Him, so she stayed and listed to her wiser older woman. Her decision to take from Naomi and learn from her, changed both of their lives. "God was at the center of their intimate communication. Ruth came to know the God of Israel through Naomi. The older woman allowed Ruth to see, hear, and feel all the joy and anguish of her relationship to God. How often do you feel that your thoughts and questions about God should be left out of a close relationship? How often do you share your unedited thoughts about God with your spouse or friends? Sharing openly about our relationship with God can bring depth and intimacy to our relationships with others."
Thank you, all of you!!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Helper vs Enabler
Society has made men think they are weak. We as wives, many times are helping society right along with their misconception, because we are making our husbands weak. There are so many different ideas being thrown at us through the media, Hollywood, TV, that we have lost what it is to actually see a strong man, and realize they are all capable of strength. After my previous experiences with my ex husband, I was awful. I cannot tell you how pathetic I thought men were and just how much hate I had for all of them. I was right there with, "typical", any time a man would make any kind of mistake.
Here is the truth of what happened, I was wrong. In my first marriage, I allowed my husband to lead me anywhere he desired. I was wrong. Because I was wrong, I did not expect anything out of him. I did not challenge him. I just coward to him, and fed him, until he became a glutton. Ezekiel 16:49, "Sodom's sins were pride, laziness, and gluttony..." Do you see what I did to my husband? I did not expect anything from him. I served him these sins on a platter. Then wondered what had happened to him? I did him an injustice. 1 Samuel 25, Abigail is the perfect example of what a wife is supposed to be for her lazy husband. She was sensible and capable. She was a persuasive speaker, and she was able to see beyond herself. She did not cower to his every desire. She saved his life! God took care of the rest.
When I married Jason, I was a mess. But I did take from my previous mistakes and learned a very valuable lesson. My attitude was wrong, for men are not scum, but my desire was headed in the right direction. I would never again allow the sins of a man to control my walk with my God. I was messed up, but my focus was on Christ. There was something that this "weak" man had to earn and it was my respect, if truth be told, it was my everything. In this I think it actually helped him to push harder. I desired to see him as a strong man and I would tell him, he could be. He desired me to want him. He desired peace and he wanted to help me. We both wanted a healthy marriage. We had to become who Christ intended each of us to be. In this, we discovered our strengths.
Here is my point. You have heard the saying, "behind every good man, is a good woman." It is true. Trust me, I am looking at myself when I say this next part. I have seen very good men fall, and many times it was because of the women that were behind them. I have also seen men become wonderful, and it was largely to do with a true woman helping them. God did not make me a woman so that I could be an enabler. He made me a woman, because He needed me to be a helper. I challenge my husband. I push him to draw closer to God. He challenges me, and provides for me an environment that helps me grow. We work together to draw closer to Christ. But hear this, if my husband was not willing to walk with me, I would not stop walking. I would press on, in order to help him; in order for my relationship with Christ to survive. I hope that I never have the title of enabler again. I cherish the title of helper; I do not take my job lightly. So if something is important for my spiritual walk with Christ and my husband did not want to join me; I would still make that important decision for my Lord, and walk with Him. What is Christ expecting of you? Are you enabling your husband in his sins, or are you helping him draw closer to God?
Here is the truth of what happened, I was wrong. In my first marriage, I allowed my husband to lead me anywhere he desired. I was wrong. Because I was wrong, I did not expect anything out of him. I did not challenge him. I just coward to him, and fed him, until he became a glutton. Ezekiel 16:49, "Sodom's sins were pride, laziness, and gluttony..." Do you see what I did to my husband? I did not expect anything from him. I served him these sins on a platter. Then wondered what had happened to him? I did him an injustice. 1 Samuel 25, Abigail is the perfect example of what a wife is supposed to be for her lazy husband. She was sensible and capable. She was a persuasive speaker, and she was able to see beyond herself. She did not cower to his every desire. She saved his life! God took care of the rest.
When I married Jason, I was a mess. But I did take from my previous mistakes and learned a very valuable lesson. My attitude was wrong, for men are not scum, but my desire was headed in the right direction. I would never again allow the sins of a man to control my walk with my God. I was messed up, but my focus was on Christ. There was something that this "weak" man had to earn and it was my respect, if truth be told, it was my everything. In this I think it actually helped him to push harder. I desired to see him as a strong man and I would tell him, he could be. He desired me to want him. He desired peace and he wanted to help me. We both wanted a healthy marriage. We had to become who Christ intended each of us to be. In this, we discovered our strengths.
Here is my point. You have heard the saying, "behind every good man, is a good woman." It is true. Trust me, I am looking at myself when I say this next part. I have seen very good men fall, and many times it was because of the women that were behind them. I have also seen men become wonderful, and it was largely to do with a true woman helping them. God did not make me a woman so that I could be an enabler. He made me a woman, because He needed me to be a helper. I challenge my husband. I push him to draw closer to God. He challenges me, and provides for me an environment that helps me grow. We work together to draw closer to Christ. But hear this, if my husband was not willing to walk with me, I would not stop walking. I would press on, in order to help him; in order for my relationship with Christ to survive. I hope that I never have the title of enabler again. I cherish the title of helper; I do not take my job lightly. So if something is important for my spiritual walk with Christ and my husband did not want to join me; I would still make that important decision for my Lord, and walk with Him. What is Christ expecting of you? Are you enabling your husband in his sins, or are you helping him draw closer to God?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Work for your Marriage
Did you know that 50 to 60% of all marriages end in divorce, and half of the ones that stay married say that they no longer have an intimate relationship, after 9 or 10 years. Some don't even have to wait that long. We as Americans are leading the world in divorce. And we wonder, why? I have been putting a lot of my effort in helping to get a marriage simulcast for our small town. In our small town we have seen many divorces among the group that calls themselves Christians, and we wonder why? Why are our marriages falling apart? What has happened in our families, that we cannot stay together? I have witnessed at least one answer to this problem. There has been one outstanding comment that our "Christians" have made. No one really wants to work. No one cares enough to put in the time or effort, for our families.
I have truly been upset by our people. We have been advertising for Focus on Marriage, for several months. I have about 30 couples that have registered for this event. 30 couples that have decided to lay one Saturday aside for their marriage. I counted over 20 churches of different denominations here. That means that if each church, who calls themselves believers in Christ, had members attend, less than 2 members would be represented by each church. Why are our marriages falling apart? Do we really have to ask?
"I have a good marriage, I don't need to attend an event for marriages." This is one answer that I have encountered. Lets say that you have a wonderful marriage. Lets say that you never struggle, ever. Will you have a friend that needs help? Do you have all the answers for someone else, when they come to you for advise? I know that I don't. I need someone to help me find the right answers for others. I have my experience, but I don't know all the answers. These kind of events can prepare us for helping others.
I do have a strong marriage. Jason and I are extremely happy. He knows how to give me what I need, from my husband, and I know how to give him what he needs, from me as a wife. I am so excited for our marriage. There is always room for growth. We can always get better. I am not afraid that I may hear something that I will have to work on. He is not afraid to hear he can improve. We work at our marriage, that is why it is so great.
Another answer that I have heard, "I don't want to give up my Saturday, I just don't like things like that." What? What do you think your spouse hears when they hear this? I will tell you. They hear, "I am not important enough to you, for you to give up your time." I am telling you, this is what they hear. They may not really understand it. They may not fully grasp the idea, but they will.
You have to build your marriage on agape love. God's love. This is something that can help our Christ followers to learn, but do they want to work? Many marriages begin because of lust, not love. We fall in lust with someone, then as time goes by, lust is gone. We have to learn to replace lust with love. "The problem with America today- is not America. It is the church. We have become very shallow as Christians. We have become masters at engineering feelings without much thought." (Ravi Zacharias) No one wants to work. We have a society with our hands out, asking to be fed. Then we wonder why we starve! Wake up people, everything takes work. The work is worth it. You have to plow and plant the seed, before you can reap the harvest. Events like this are not just about marriage and how to live happily ever after. They are about Christ and how to allow Him to take hold of every part of your life. It takes work, but oh how sweet His fruit is!
I have truly been upset by our people. We have been advertising for Focus on Marriage, for several months. I have about 30 couples that have registered for this event. 30 couples that have decided to lay one Saturday aside for their marriage. I counted over 20 churches of different denominations here. That means that if each church, who calls themselves believers in Christ, had members attend, less than 2 members would be represented by each church. Why are our marriages falling apart? Do we really have to ask?
"I have a good marriage, I don't need to attend an event for marriages." This is one answer that I have encountered. Lets say that you have a wonderful marriage. Lets say that you never struggle, ever. Will you have a friend that needs help? Do you have all the answers for someone else, when they come to you for advise? I know that I don't. I need someone to help me find the right answers for others. I have my experience, but I don't know all the answers. These kind of events can prepare us for helping others.
I do have a strong marriage. Jason and I are extremely happy. He knows how to give me what I need, from my husband, and I know how to give him what he needs, from me as a wife. I am so excited for our marriage. There is always room for growth. We can always get better. I am not afraid that I may hear something that I will have to work on. He is not afraid to hear he can improve. We work at our marriage, that is why it is so great.
Another answer that I have heard, "I don't want to give up my Saturday, I just don't like things like that." What? What do you think your spouse hears when they hear this? I will tell you. They hear, "I am not important enough to you, for you to give up your time." I am telling you, this is what they hear. They may not really understand it. They may not fully grasp the idea, but they will.
You have to build your marriage on agape love. God's love. This is something that can help our Christ followers to learn, but do they want to work? Many marriages begin because of lust, not love. We fall in lust with someone, then as time goes by, lust is gone. We have to learn to replace lust with love. "The problem with America today- is not America. It is the church. We have become very shallow as Christians. We have become masters at engineering feelings without much thought." (Ravi Zacharias) No one wants to work. We have a society with our hands out, asking to be fed. Then we wonder why we starve! Wake up people, everything takes work. The work is worth it. You have to plow and plant the seed, before you can reap the harvest. Events like this are not just about marriage and how to live happily ever after. They are about Christ and how to allow Him to take hold of every part of your life. It takes work, but oh how sweet His fruit is!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Focus on Marriage
Focus on the Family is presenting "Focus on Marriage." It is a simulcast presented in every state across the Country. http://ccnonline.net/fom-attend/ Go to the web address and find a location near you so that you and your spouse can "learn to see your marriage through the eyes of God..."
Jimmy Evens, with Marriage Today, said that people who have the best marriages are the ones willing to take time out for their marriages. The ones that have the best marriages are the ones he calls "marriage seminar junkies." They make marriage and growing together in their marriage a priority, that is why they are happily married.
Take time out for your marriage...
Big day is February 28th.
Don't miss this wonderful opportunity!!
Jimmy Evens, with Marriage Today, said that people who have the best marriages are the ones willing to take time out for their marriages. The ones that have the best marriages are the ones he calls "marriage seminar junkies." They make marriage and growing together in their marriage a priority, that is why they are happily married.
Take time out for your marriage...
Big day is February 28th.
Don't miss this wonderful opportunity!!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Learning to Love, Girls Retreat
Acts 10, "Cornelius, he was a devout man who feared the God of Israel... he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. ..Peter went up to the flat roof to pray... he fell into a trance... Then a voice said to him..." God does not need us. He can go and talk to anyone whom He chooses. It is for us that we go and speak to people. Many people could see me talking with the girls this past weekend as something that I was doing for the girls, but in reality, I needed it as well. He has designed us to need relationship. We need to feel needed and we need to learn how to see life through another's perspective.
What a treat this weekend was for me. We had 8 wonderful girls in Ouray. I could have missed a blessed time, by not going; I am so glad that I went. Honestly, I think I learned more than they did. Everything that came out of my mouth, was first directed toward myself. I still have so far to go. God did not need me in order to get His message out to these girls. He used our interaction and sharing to strengthen all of us.
The first night I shared my life story with the girls. I cannot tell you the pain that each time of sharing creates for me. It hurts to talk about your failures. It hurts to see yourself for who you truly are, a sinner. I pray that they could see through my life the pain that results from "one moment of fun," if they can see this, it is worth my pain. If they took just one lesson from this weekend, and that lesson was living for Christ and avoiding the deception that Satan tries to trick us with, it was worth it. But it was not just one lesson, it was many.
We talked a lot about letting go of our own selfish desires and looking at another person, through their eyes. We talked about love and how to truly begin loving others. We talked about how the choices that we make now, will affect us and our children's lives. We talked about health and how to take care of our self. We talked about how God does love us and how he has chosen us, out of a crowd. We talked about what it really means to be a leader, and we are in no one's shadow. We talked about learning what God has called us to become as individuals. We talked Christ and how much he does love us. We talked how truly important it is to hold on to purity and not fall into sexual sin.
I so hoped that these girls would understand how hurtful it is to not value your bodies. Our bodies are the temple of God, we are to cherish ourselves and keep ourselves pure. I was so thankful to learn that none of them have given themselves away, that is something that they can never take back again. I wanted them to see just how precious they were and to hold on to that purity, not only for themselves, not only for their husbands to come, but for Christ.
In sharing with these young, growing women, I heard God talking to me. I heard Him speaking to me through my mouth. How often we are telling someone something and they think it is us speaking to them, but in reality it is God talking to the person speaking, first. Does this make sense. I was not just called to talk to these girls, for these girls. But I was called because He wanted me to learn something. He does not ask us to share with others, just for the other person, but it helps us to grow when we share. It is so crazy. In stepping out and helping others, in not being selfish, in loving others, the one sharing benefit's more. Here is what I mean. It is always the one who teaches, that truly learns the lesson. The students are learning, but the teacher is one who has to dig deeper in order to teach. He does not need us in order for Him to talk. He can tell anyone anything He desires. He uses us to help us reach out to others. He wants us to learn something. He wants us to draw closer to Him. We love others, so that we can love God. It is all about relationship. He is the God of love, He calls us to love.
Thank you girls. Thank you for allowing me to share with you. Thank you for listening to me. Please learn from my life, so that you do not have the pain that I feel. Learn to love, so that you can feel more loved. Thank you...
What a treat this weekend was for me. We had 8 wonderful girls in Ouray. I could have missed a blessed time, by not going; I am so glad that I went. Honestly, I think I learned more than they did. Everything that came out of my mouth, was first directed toward myself. I still have so far to go. God did not need me in order to get His message out to these girls. He used our interaction and sharing to strengthen all of us.
The first night I shared my life story with the girls. I cannot tell you the pain that each time of sharing creates for me. It hurts to talk about your failures. It hurts to see yourself for who you truly are, a sinner. I pray that they could see through my life the pain that results from "one moment of fun," if they can see this, it is worth my pain. If they took just one lesson from this weekend, and that lesson was living for Christ and avoiding the deception that Satan tries to trick us with, it was worth it. But it was not just one lesson, it was many.
We talked a lot about letting go of our own selfish desires and looking at another person, through their eyes. We talked about love and how to truly begin loving others. We talked about how the choices that we make now, will affect us and our children's lives. We talked about health and how to take care of our self. We talked about how God does love us and how he has chosen us, out of a crowd. We talked about what it really means to be a leader, and we are in no one's shadow. We talked about learning what God has called us to become as individuals. We talked Christ and how much he does love us. We talked how truly important it is to hold on to purity and not fall into sexual sin.
I so hoped that these girls would understand how hurtful it is to not value your bodies. Our bodies are the temple of God, we are to cherish ourselves and keep ourselves pure. I was so thankful to learn that none of them have given themselves away, that is something that they can never take back again. I wanted them to see just how precious they were and to hold on to that purity, not only for themselves, not only for their husbands to come, but for Christ.
In sharing with these young, growing women, I heard God talking to me. I heard Him speaking to me through my mouth. How often we are telling someone something and they think it is us speaking to them, but in reality it is God talking to the person speaking, first. Does this make sense. I was not just called to talk to these girls, for these girls. But I was called because He wanted me to learn something. He does not ask us to share with others, just for the other person, but it helps us to grow when we share. It is so crazy. In stepping out and helping others, in not being selfish, in loving others, the one sharing benefit's more. Here is what I mean. It is always the one who teaches, that truly learns the lesson. The students are learning, but the teacher is one who has to dig deeper in order to teach. He does not need us in order for Him to talk. He can tell anyone anything He desires. He uses us to help us reach out to others. He wants us to learn something. He wants us to draw closer to Him. We love others, so that we can love God. It is all about relationship. He is the God of love, He calls us to love.
Thank you girls. Thank you for allowing me to share with you. Thank you for listening to me. Please learn from my life, so that you do not have the pain that I feel. Learn to love, so that you can feel more loved. Thank you...
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